As the Midwest air turns crisp and the leaves turn gold, the season of gratitude arrives. For Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Riley Leonard, gratitude isn’t reserved for Thanksgiving alone. It’s a daily practice, rooted in his faith, that helps him find perspective through both the triumphs and the trials of life on and off the field.
In April, Leonard had his name called in the 2025 NFL draft when the Colts selected him in the sixth round. Soon after, he made the three-hour move from South Bend to the Circle City, following a successful senior season in which he led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a National Championship appearance in January.
“I’ve been through a lot of emotions this past year—from hitting the lowest of lows [at Notre Dame] to making a national championship run, to going through the draft process, which can be pretty lonely,” Leonard explained.
Since his move to Indianapolis this summer, Leonard has quickly come to appreciate the strong sense of community within the city — and especially within the Colts organization. He stated, “The leaders of this community are always giving back, and it creates constant growth in the city and within the organization.”
As a late-round draft pick, Leonard has worked to carve out his role as a backup quarterback with the Colts, steadily climbing the depth chart during his first NFL season. Through his football journey, he’s learned to find gratitude not only in moments of success, but also in the challenges and low points along the way.
“Whenever things go well, I’m grateful — but when things feel bad, I find more gratitude, because I can lean on perspective and laugh at myself for what I’m worried about,” he said.
This perspective keeps Leonard grounded in a profession as fast-paced and unpredictable as any. He understands the privilege of playing the game he loves, even with the challenges it brings. His sentiment serves as a valuable reminder for all of us as we head into the holiday season.
The 23-year-old’s gratitude extends beyond football — he got engaged to his longtime girlfriend Molly in July. The pair have been together since their freshman year of high school, which is when Molly introduced Riley to church.
“The biggest impact she’s [Molly] had on my life is my faith. She took me to church for the first time my freshman year of high school, and I’m very thankful for that. We’re actually getting married in that same church — we would go to Bible studies there when I was a freshman. I’m really looking forward to that,” he said.
During every game, he wears a wristband that reads “Matthew 23:12,” a Bible verse that says, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” The verse touches on humility and resonates deeply with Leonard as a professional athlete.
As an NFL player, Leonard recognizes the platform he has to share gratitude through his faith, and with Thanksgiving approaching, Leonard has one goal in mind:
“I’d like to be more involved during the time of Thanksgiving and give back to the community in any way I can. I hope I can find an opportunity to do so.”
